Charging top construction for blast furnaces



Dec. 26, 1961 H. TAUBMANN CHARGING TOP CONSTRUCTION FOR BLAST FURNACES Filed June 23, 1958 3,014,603 CHARGING TOP CGNSTRUCTION FOR BLAST FURNACES Harro Taubmann, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, assignor to lellner 8r Ziegler G.m.b.H., Frankfurt am Main, Germany Filed June 23, 1958, Ser. No. 743,617 Qlaims priority. a plication Germany June 21, i957 Claims. (Cl. 214-182) The present invention relates to blast furnaces and par ticularly to a charging top construction for such furnaces.

In blast furnaces it has proven to be particularly advantageous that the waste gases at the upper end of the furnace are drawn off. It is particularly advantageous for automatic blast furnace operation to use a continuous process in which a mixed firing charge is utilized. In this connection, it is important that the charging of the blast furnace is effected in such a manner that the previously mixed charge, for example limestone and coke, be not affected by the charging procedure in a manner to again separate the mixture. The mixture with the fuel component must be evenly distributed over the entire cross section of the furnace. Besides it is also desirable that no undesired air or seepage can enter the furnace while merely the Waste gases are drawn olf It is an object of the invention to provide a charging top construction for blast furnaces in which the charge is completely mixed while the mixture with the fuel is evenly distributed over the entire cross section of the furnace.

It is another object of the invention to avoid the entrance of undesired air seepage into the furnace while merely drawing off the Waste gases.

In accordance with the invention a charging top construction for blast furnaces employs a rotating plate upon which at least two vibrating channels are located. The discharge openings for these vibrating channels are spaced at different distances from the center axis of the furnace. The vibrating channels proper may be identical while merely the discharging openings of the associated discharge chutes are spaced at different distances from the center axis. Inasmuch as the vibrating channels are subject merely to small amplitudes, it is, neverthless, possible by means of these vibrating channels to attain reliable scaling, for example, by means of suitable collar members. Between the vibrating channels and the rotating plate a hermetically sealed closure is entirely feasible.

The rotating plate may also be connected with the furnace closure in the form of a hood in sealed relationship so that below this plate the suction stubs of an annular waste gas flue are located. The sealing of the rotating plate with respect to the hood of the furnace can be attained in a very eflicient and reliable manner by means of a water seal. In this manner the prerequisites are met which require on the one hand even distribution of the firing charge while maintaining practically constant charge level in the furnace, and where, on the other hand, a reliable closure of the upper end of the furnace against the entrance of undesirable air is provided. In order to keep the level of the firing charge in the furnace even, charge sounding probes are advantageously provided which by way of an automatic control arrangement, regulate the quantity of the charge supplied over the vibrating channels, which are suitably electrically operated. In this connection, it is also possible to control an adjusting device for regulating the number of rotations of the plate, but it is also possible by these means to operate an adjusting device for the quantity performance of the vibrating channels.

A pair of vertically adjustable rods suitably guided 7 3,914,693 Patented Dec. 26, 1961 in sliding members serve for charge probing elements which may be provided with suitable operating means. These rods automatically contact the blast furnace charge at regular intervals of live or ten minutes. An electrical conducting mechanism provides for the path which the probe elements cover when lowered upon the blast furnace level being charted. In this manner the level of the charge in the blast furnace can be determined.

it is also possible to provide in connection with this indicating means for control of the quantity supplied by the vibrating channels. For example, a coil control or a similar device can be employed for this purpose. It is, however, also possible to operate a potentiometer directly and to guide the vibrating channels by means of a magnetic amplifier. It is also possible to use an isotope hopper guard in lieu of the charge probes which indicates two limits. In that event it is possible by means of a simple yes or no control to maintain the level in the furnace Within these two limits.

The drawing illustrates an embodiment of the subject of the application showing the upper end of a blast furnace in section, The upper end of the furnace 1 is somewhat reduced in size by means of a hood in. The

suction stubs 2 which are connected to the waste gas conduit are connected to this hood 1a. A rotating clos ing plate 4 forms the closure of this hood la at the top, which plate is driven by means of a driving pinion 5 and a toothed ring 5a. The plate 4 runs on a track by means of track rollers 4a. For sealing the top plate 4 against the hood la a ring channel 422 is provided which is filled with water.

Upon the closure plate, which may be in the form of a disc or also of conical shape, vibrating channels 6a and 6b are mounted which supply the lime and coke mixture to the blast furnace by way of a pair of chutes 7a and 7b. These chutes 7a and 7b are rigidly connected to the plate 4.

The discharge openings of the chutes are disposed in such a manner that they cover areas in the furnace which are at dilferent distances from the center or which during rotation define circles of different diameters. Rotation of the entire supply structure as a unit results in substantially even distribution of the charge in the furnace.

The two vibrating channels are supplied with the charge by way of an intermediate sleeve 8 from a hopper 9. This hopper is sealed at its upper end by means of a disc closure which is loaded with weights. The hopper 9 is supplied discontinuously by means of a. bucket conveyer (not shown).

Suitable hopper guards provide for the operation of a 7 corresponding alarm signal as soon as the charge column in the hopper 9 attains a predetermined minimum value.

The supplying of the furnace proper by means of the vibrating channels 6a and 6b, on the other hand, is continuous, in a manner that the level in the blast furnace is maintained constant automatically by means of the charge sounding probes 11a and 11b. Automatic regulation afi'ects the amplitude of the oscillations of the vibrating channels and thereby the feeding of the charge in a manner that the aforesaid continuous filling is insured. Such automatic regulation can be readily obtained in a particularly simple manner by means of electromagnetically operated and cont-rolled vibrating channels.

In a practical embodiment of the invention the vibrating channels 6a and 6b are provided with electromagnetic vibrators 6c and 6d the operation of which is controlled in a known manner by the sounding probes 11a and lib by way of electrical indicators 12:; and 12b and control leads 13a and 13b. As previously mentioned the indicators may contain inductance coils, potentiometers or radiation detectors and may be acted on by members connected with the probes lie and lib. If an inductance coil is used a magnet or a soft iron core connected with the probe rod is sufficient. For a potentiometer a mechanical transmission between probes 11a, 11b and indicators 12a, 12b, respectively, will suffice for rotating a potentiometer in the housing 12a or 12b in accordance with the position of the probes, for example a toothed rod and toothed gear or by means of an abutment and ratchet combination or also by means of a friction roller which engages the probe rod. Where isotope control is employed, indicating bodies such as radioactive isotopes are provided in suitable locations in the probe rods the radiations of which are received by detectors contained in the housings 12a, 12b, respectively, and are transformed into electrical impulses which are transmitted by amplifiers to the control leads 13a and 13b.

Having thus described my invention with reference to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, I do not wish to be limited thereto, but what I desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Charging top construction for lime blast furnaces or the like comprising a hood mounted on said furnace, a plate rotatably mounted in said hood, a hopper for supplying the charge to said furnace, a funnel mounted in receiving relation to said hopper and having a discharge aperture disposed generally centrally of said furnace, a pair of vibrating channels mounted on said plate in receiving relation to said aperture and extending radially outwardly therefrom, and a pair of discharge members rigidly connected to said rotatably mounted plate and having apertures below said plate disposed at different distances from the center axis of said furnace for evenly distributing the charge in said furnace.

2. Charging top construction for lime blast furnaces or the like comprising a hood mounted on said furnace, a plate rotatably mounted in said hood, a hopper for supplying the charge to said furnace, a funnel mounted in receiving relation to said hopper and having a discharge aperture disposed generally centrally of said furnace, a pair of vibrating channels mounted on said plate in receiving relation to said aperture and extending radially outwardly therefrom, and a pair of discharge members rigidly connected to said rotatably mounted plate and having apertures below said plate disposed at different distances from the center axis of said furnace for evenly distributing the charge in said furnace, said discharge members being chutes disposed in receiving relationship to said vibrating channels having their discharge ends disposed at different distances from said center axis of said furnace.

3. Charging top construction for lime blast furnaces or the like comprising a hood mounted on said furnace, a plate rotatably mounted in said hood, a hopper for supplying the charge to said furnace, a funnel mounted in receiving relation to said hopper and having a discharge aperture disposed generally centrally of said furnace, a pair of vibrating channels mounted on said plate in receiving relation to said aperture and extending radially outwardly therefrom, and a pair of discharge members rigidly connected to said rotatably mounted plate and having apertures below said plate disposed at different distances from the center axis of said furnace for evenly distributing the charge in said furnace, said rotating plate being connected with said hood by way of a seal and said hood being provided with waste gas discharge stubs below said plate.

4. Charging top construction for lime blast furnaces or the like comprising a hood mounted on said furnace, a plate rotatably mounted in said hood, a hopper for supplying the charge to said furnace, a funnel mounted in receiving relation to said hopper and having a discharge aperture disposed generally centrally of said furnace, a pair of vibrating channels mounted on said plate in receiving relation to said aperture and extending radially outwardly therefrom, and a pair of discharge members rigidly connected to said rotatably mounted plate and having apertures below said plate disposed at different distances from the center axis of said furnace for evenly distributing the charge in said furnace, said rotating plate being connected with said hood by Way of a seal, said hood being provided with waste gas discharge stubs below said plate, and said seal intermediate said plate and said hood being in the form of a water channel seal.

5. Charging top construction for lime blast furnaces or the like comprising a hood mounted on said furnace, a plate rotatably mounted in said hood, a hopper for supplying the charge to said furnace, a funnel mounted in receiving relation to said hopper and having a discharge aperture disposed generally centrally of said furnace, a pair of vibrating channels mounted on said plate in receiving relation to said aperture and extending radially outwardly therefrom, and a pair of discharge members rigidly connected to said rotatably mounted plate and having apertures below said plate disposed at different distances from the center axis of said furnace for evenly distributing the charge in said furnace, said rotating plate being connected with said hood by way of a seal, said hood being provided with waste gas discharge stubs below said plate, and said seal intermediate said plate and said hood being in the form of a water channel seal, said furnace construction further comprising operating and adjusting means adapted to control the quantity of fiow of the charge including a pair of sounding probes extending through said plate into said furnace operatively associated with said vibrating channels and automatic control means connected to said operating and adjusting means for said vibrating channels to control the flow of the charge in relation to the charge level in said furnace.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

